Amid reports the Broncos are set to offer Michael Maguire a new extension, one pundit has labelled the treatment and coverage around the Brisbane coach this year as “disgraceful”.
The Broncos are on the verge of being the first team in 20 years to miss the finals the season after winning the comp. To avoid that unwanted tag, they’ll need to win their remaining seven games.
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Maguire, who led the Broncos to the title in his first year at the club, has been under pressure for much of the season given the club’s disappointing campaign.
In turn, there have been doubts over whether the Broncos should continue on with Maguire and extend the coach’s contract, which runs until the end of 2027.
Journalist Peter Badel, who covers the club for The Courier Mail, believes the criticism levelled at Maguire has been “unfair” and “farcical”.
“I think the analysis of Michael Maguire has been the most disgraceful I’ve seen of a coach in a very long time,” Badel said on NRL360.
“This is a guy who won the premiership last year. They’ve had a tough season this year and have been ravaged by injuries. They’ve used the most players of anyone in the comp.
“It’s farcical to suggest he should be under the pump.
“I’ve been around the Broncos for 20 years. I know what an unhappy club looks like. I saw one under Anthony Seibold, I’ve seen one under Anthony Griffin.
“I didn’t see an unhappy club under Kevin Walters. I thought they should’ve given him another year but that’s the call they made.
“I just think the inferno around Michael Maguire has been overstated.”
“You can stop asking!” Carrigan contract | 01:44
MORE NRL NEWS
TALKING PTS: Tigers’ ‘huge price’; why Broncos have to ‘get out’ of Walsh’s way
‘ABSOLUTE JOKE’: Legend tees off at ‘bulls***’ NRL call
‘SO INCONSISTENT’: NRL superstar calls out Bunker… and he came with receipts
Broncos legend Gorden Tallis, who believes the criticism comes with the territory of being a big club, then fired back at Badel.
It’s worth noting that the two have history, after a heated clash regarding Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds back in March.
“It comes with being the Broncos. They are the biggest team,” Tallis said.
“You’ve written articles about them yourself. You’ve been unfair. Would you say that?”
“I think there have been times that given their resources, their gravitas that they have been underachievers. No doubt about that,” Badel replied.
Badel compared the coaching record of Maguire to a few other head coaches around the league.
He pointed out that Kristian Woolf (Dolphins), Cameron Ciraldo (Bulldogs) and Wayne Bennett (Rabbitohs) have all had less wins since the start of last season, but those coaches aren’t under pressure.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio countered though, singing a similar tune to Tallis.
“He at least has one eye on it!” | 04:45
“There’s no comparison to the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs. This is the club who boast about being the biggest sporting club in the country and I want them to boast about it. It’s wonderful for the game,” Riccio said.
“They’re the defending premiers but at the start of the season, the world’s best front rower (Payne Haas) says he wants to leave, the assistant coach (Ben Te’o) up and leaves in the early rounds.
“They’re on the verge of missing the finals. It’s very rare that the premiers are on the verge of missing the finals.
“Any scrutiny is justified. They’ve been inconsistent, they’ve got a star-studded roster and what they have at their disposal compared to the smaller clubs in Sydney who are outachieving them, well there’s no suggestion at all that you could call the coverage disgraceful. It’s warranted.
“I’m not wishing Michael Maguire out of the club. There’s no way I’d sack him either but to suggest the scrutiny is over the top and disgraceful, I couldn’t disagree more.”
Maguire signed a three-year deal when joining the Broncos which runs out at the end of next season.
Despite Brisbane’s premiership hangover, reports circulated last week that the club were discussing an extension with Maguire.
Badel was asked about whether the prospect of a new deal is real.
“Yes it is. Absolutely it is,” Badel replied.
“This is going to be a test for the Broncos to see where they put their money where their mouth is as they gave Kevvie an extension and then they sacked him so I think if they’re going to give him an extenstion, it’s got to be in good faith.
“I think they will give him an extension. It won’t be this year but by the start of next season, they’ll have a definitive answer.”